Door check structure



P. H. TRAVIS DOOR CHECK STRUCTURE Aug. 23, 19575 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 13, 1950 FEG.

FIG@

INVENToR. PAUL H.TRAv|s BY W , v MMA/z ATTORN EYS ug 23, 1955 P. H. TRAVIS 2,715,746

DOOR CHECK STRUCTURE Filed March 13, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

ATTO R N EYS United States Patent O DOOR CHECK STRUCTURE Paul H. Travis, Leonard, Mieli.

Application March 13, 1950, Serial No. 149,300

14 Claims. (Cl. 16-85) The present invention relates generally to door check structures and refers more particularly to concealing type structures having means for releasably holding or retaining the door in open position so that it will not accidentally swing toward closed position when fully open.

Generally described, the structure comprises an arm sef cured at one end to a door or door frame and extending through a slotted plate in the other part of the door structure. The arm is provided with camming portions adapted to have frictional contact with the sides of the slot as the door approaches open position. ming portions are the result of twisting portions of a at strip laterally out of the plane of the major portion of the strip.

The free end of the arm is provided with stop means which conveniently take the form of a resilient bumper to limit opening movement of the door. Preferably spring means are provided which are effective to bias the door toward open position.

The door cheek structure operates to facilitate initial opening of the door by virtue of the spring. As the door approaches fully open position opening movement is opposed as the camming surfaces pass through and frictionally engage the sides of the slot. In fully open position the camming surfaces frictionally retain the door in fully open position, but permit closing of the door by applica- Conveniently, the camtion of suicient force to overcome the frictional engagement of the arm inthe slot.

The construction disclosed herein is particularly well adapted forautomobile doors but its use is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the same construction may be employed in mounting any door or closure, and among such additional uses attention is directed to the possibility of employing the present construction in rear deck covers for motor vehicles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide door check structure effective to assist initial opening movement of the door, to oppose opening movement of the door as the ldoor approaches fully open position, to limit opening movement of the door to a predetermined amount and to oppose closing movement of the door with a suicient force to prevent accidental closure of the door by gravity or the like.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide door check structure comprising an arm movable through a slot upon opening or closing movement of the door, and camming means associated with the arm to frictionally engage the slot through a predetermined part of movement of the door.

. It is a further feature of the present invention to provide door check structure comprising an arm formed of a fiat strip movable through a slot, a portion of the strip being twisted transversely to have engagement with the sides of the slot so as to oppose movement of the arm through the slot.

It is a further feature of theV present invention to provide door check structure comprising an arm in the form of a flat strip having a twisted camming portion adjacent one end, the strip being pivoted at its other end to a door or door frame, the arm passing through a slotted plate mounted on the door or door frame and yielding means biased upon passage of the twisted portion of the arm through the slot, the yielding means comprising either a resilient mounting for the slotted plate, a resilient mounting for the arm, the resilient nature of the arm, resilient means mounting the arm for transverse twisting movement relative to its pivot, or resilient elements inclu-ded in the means for mounting the arm.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,

l wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary horizontal section through a door mounting illustrating one form of door check structure.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing the parts of the door check structure in the position occupied with the door in fully open position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on the line 4 4, Fgure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section on the line 8 8, Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure l0 is a fragmetnary section on the line 10-10, Figure 9.

Figure 1l is a fragmentary sectional viewvsimilar to Figure 2 illustrating a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure l2 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to Figures l-4 there is illustrated a portion of a door frame 1t) to which the door 12 is pivoted by hinges indicated generally at 14. Door check structure for controlling opening and closing movement of the door is illustrated, comprising an arm indicated generally at 16, carried by the door 12 and passing through a slotted plate 1S. In detail the inner edge of the door 12 is illustrated as provided with a well or recess 20 to the bottom wall 22 of which is secured a mounting bracket 24, this bracket being illustrated as secured in place by nut and bolt means illustrated at 26. The bracket 24 includes an outwardly extending apertured ear 28. The arm 16 is in the form of an arcuately curved generally flat strip having an enlarged opening 30 through which a pivot bolt 32 extends. The bolt 32 passes through the aperture in the ear 28 and is secured in place by a nut 34. Intermediate the end of the arm 16 and the ear 28 is a spring 36 having a plurality of curved arms 3% which at their ends engage the ear 28. The spring 36 is thus effective to maintain the at pivoted end portion of the arm 16 in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the bolt 32, but to permit transverse rocking movement of the arm 16 when sufficient force is applied thereto.

Adjacent the outer free end of the arm 16 is a camming portion 40 which conveniently may take the form of a transversely twisted portion of the arm 16. As illustrated in Figure 2, the camming portion 40 thus includes an intermediate portion 41 where the twisted displacement of the arm is a maximum. As the portion 41a passes through the slot in the plate 18 the camming action exerted thereby increases until the intermediate portion 41 occupies the slot in the plate 18. Therefore, during passage of the portion 41a through the slot as the door moves toward open position, there is a gradually lncreasing force opposing such movement. As the door continues to move toward open position, the portion 44b passes through the slot and the force opposing opening movement gradually decreases. However, the ltwisted portion 40 is so designed that when the door is in fully open position the camming portion 44b remains m frictional engagement with the sides of the slot so as to oppose initial closing movement of the door. Conversely, on the initial closing movement of the door the portlons 44b, 41, and 41a are sequentially operative so that the force required to overcome the door check mechanism increases from 4a definite minimum to a maximum and then decreases to zero. This results in a very desirable action -of the door check since the maximum force opposing closing movement of the until the door has moved a small distance toward closed position. Moreover, the arrangement provides a braking action on closing movement of the door which tends to prevent accidental slamming of the door. The maximum 'force opposing closing movement of the door 1s not released instantly but instead is gradually diminished through ya definite range of movement of the door.

i At'its outer end the arm 16 carries a resilient bumper 42 adapted to engage the surface of the plate 18 to limit outward swinging movement of the door. 'a tension spring 44 vis connected to the free end of the arm 16 and to a bracket 46 on the door frame applying a force tothe arm tending to move the door 12 toward open position.

'The plate 18 is provided with a relatively narrow slot "48 'through which the arm 16 extends. The slot is of slightly greater width than the thickness of the arm so that the untwisted portion of the arm passes through the slot without resistance. However, the width of the slot is such that as the twisted camming portion 40 of the arm passes through the slot it engages opposite sides of the slot as best illustrated in Figure 4.

In Figure 3 the parts of the door check structure are 'illustrated in the position which they occupy when the door is in fully open position. By comparing Athis ligure with Figure 2 the'operation of the door check structure 'becomes apparent. In Figure 2 the pivoted end 50 of the arm 16 is illustrated as occupying a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pivot bolt 32. In Figure 3 due to the camming action of the twisted portion 40 of the arm, the

pivoted end 5.0 of the arm 16 has been rocked out of the planeperpendicular to the axis of the pivot bolt 32 and Ithis rocking motion, as is evident, has taken place against .the yforce exerted by the spring 36. Accordingly, the 'edge portions 52 and 54 of the camming portion 40 of the arm 16 are in vtight frictional engagement with the sides of the slot 48.

In this construction the arm 16 is formed of a substantially rigid material.

The arrangement is such that when the door is initially unlatched, the spring 44 tends tomove the door toward openposition. As the door approaches fully open posi- 'tion the twisted camming portion 40 of the arm engages the sides lof the slot 48 in the guide plate 18, thus slowing down or-retarding opening movement of the .door to predoor is not encountered i' In addition in firm frictional engagement with the sides of the slot and is retained in such frictiona'l engagement by the action of the spring 36, rebound of the door is prevented and the door is retained in open position. By predetermining the strength of the spring 36, the shape of the camming portion 40, and the width of the slot 48, the desired resistance against initial closing movement of the door is provided. Normally Ithese parts are designed so that the door is Aretained open against usually encountered gravitational Vforces and light breezes. However, the force opposing initial closing movement of the door is such that it may readily be overcome by the operator grasping the door and moving it manually toward closed positron.

Referring now to Figure 5 a slightly modified Construction is illustrated in which the arm 16 is mounted to the ear 28 of the bracket 24 by a pivot pin 60 herein illustrated as a rivet. Instead of employing a spider type spring such as illustrated at 36 in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures l-4, a coil spring 62 is provided engaging the at end 50 of the arm 16 at one end and a head 64 of the rivet at the other end. The spring 62 thereby tends to retain the flat end 50 of the arm 16 against the at surface of the ear 28 and opposes the transverse rocking movement of the arm in substantially the same manner as the spider spring 36 in the embodiment previously described.

Referring now to Figure 6 there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention. In this case the larm 16 is mounted between a pair of brackets 70, each of which has an outwardly extending ear 72. The at inner end 50 of the arm 16 has an enlarged opening which receives the shank of the pivot bolt 74. In this case two spider type springs 76 are provided at opposite sides of the arm 16, thus tending to retain the at inner end of the arm 16 in aplane perpendicular to the axis of the pivot holt 74. These springs however, are yieldable Aso as to permit transverse rocking of the arm 16 as the camming portion 40 passes through the lslot in the 'guide plate 18.

Referring now'to Figures 7 and 8 there is illustrated another 'embodiment of the present invention. In this case the arm 16 is illustrated as pivoted between a pair 'of 4brackets 80 as by a pivot rivet 82 and this mounting 'means iirmly retains Vthe at inner end 50 of the arm the stop 94 Vand in this position the slot :86 is parallel to Athe transverse width of the arm 16. When'the 'twisted camming portion of the -arm enters the slot `86it engages opposite sides thereof substantially as illustratedin Fig.- ure 4. In this casehowever, Vthe necessary yieldingto permit passage of the camming portion 40 through( the slot 'takes 'place by rocking movement of the plate -84 against the resistance imposed by the spring 92. The

final result is substantially the same as that obtained in the previous embodiment of the invention in that the spring 92 thus Aestablishes frictional resistance to .movementof the cammingpor'tion l40 through the slot 86.

`Referring now to Figures 9 and l0 there is illustrated yet another embodiment of the present invention. In

lthis case the arm 16 is mounted betweenears 100 land 4102 of brackets 104 and 106 respectively. The at end -50 of the arm is mounted for 4'pivotal movement to the ears 100 and 102 by pivot means such Aas Athe rivet .198. This construction prevents Vtransverse rocking movement of the inner end 50 of the arm 16 out of the plane perf pendicular to the axis'of the pivot 108. :I'Iowever,'the brackets 104 and 106 are mounted'to a Supporting plate 110 and this plate, as best illustrated in Figure 10, is mounted for rocking movement about a pivot 112. The supporting plate 110 is normally positioned against a stop pin 114 and is retained in such position by a spring 116. The normal position of the plate 110 is such that the major hat portion of the arm 16 occupies a plane parallel to the side walls of the slot 118 formed in the guide plate 120, which may be identical with the guide plate 18 previously described. As the inclined or twisted camming portion of the arm 16 passes through the slot 118 a transverse rocking force is applied to the arm which results in rocking movement of the suppbrting plate 110 about the axis of the pivot 112, against the force imposed by the spring 116.. Thus the side walls of the slot are in frictional engagement with opposed edges of the arm 16;

Referring now to Figure 11-there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention. In this case the arm 16 is illustrated as supported between ears 130 and 132 of brackets 134 and 136 respectively. The arm 16 as before, Aincludes the twisted or inclinedv camming portion and a slotted guide plate 138. In this case provision for'the required yielding to permit passage of the twisted portion 40 through the slot in the guide plate is accomplished by forming the ears 130 and 132 of resilient material which permits twisting of these ears relativezto the base portions-of the brackets 134v and 136. The at pivoted end 50 of the arm 16 is pivoted between the ears 130 and 132' by pivot means illustrated herein as comprising a rivet 140.

vln the foregoing embodiments of the invention the .arm 16 asl previously stated, is assumed to be rigidor substantially rigid. However, a similar result can be obtained by employing an arm 150 as. illustrated in YFigure l2, which is itself formed of a.-resi1ient or spring material. In this'embodiment of the invention the arm shape to the camming portion 40 of the arm 16 previously described. The arm 150 passes through a slot .162 formed in alguide plate 164 secured to the end wall 90 Aof the door frame. A stop 166 which may be identical with the stop 42 previously described, is provided and in this embodiment as in all other embodiments of the present invention, a spring such as illustrated at 44 in Figure l is preferably connected to the free end of the arm.

ln this case the slot 162 in the guide plate 164 is preferably somewhat narrower than the slots 48 and 86 previously referred to, so as to iit more closely with the sides of the arm 150 when the straight portion of such arm occupies the slot. When the door is moved toward open position the twisted camming portion 160 enters the slot 162 and the necessary yielding of the parts to permit passage of this portion through the slot takes place by a resilient twisting motion of the arm 150.

All of the embodiments of the present invention operate to control the opening and closing movement of the door in substantially the same manner. Briey reviewing, as soon as the door is unlatched the tension spring 44 tends to move the door toward opening position thus assisting the operator to open the door. As the door approaches fully open position, opening movement is retarded by entrance of the camming portion of the arm into the slot, which thus establishes a frictional engagement retarding or resisting opening movement. As the door moves from closed position toward an intermediate position in which the camming portion. 40 of the arm which has the maximum twist occupies the slot, the cnergy required to effect twisting of the arm, the mounting bracket or the slotted plate is of course supplied by the moving door thus tending to slow it down. Accordingly, opening movement of the door is slowed down by the combination of the energy required to twist the arm, its bracket or the slotted plate, and the energy required to overcome the friction between the arm and the slot. As the door reaches fully open position further opening movement is prevented by engagement of the stop at the end of the pivot arm with the guide plate. At the same time the camming portion of the arm remains in frictional contact with the walls of the slot in the guide plate. The door is thus retained in open position against accidental closing movement. However, the resistance to initial closing movement is such that the operator may manually close the door by applying a reasonable force thereto.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved door check structure in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. Door check structure for controlling swinging movement between a frame part and door part comprising an am pivoted to one of said parts and held against rotation about its longitudinal axis thereon, a guide plate iixedly carried by the other of said parts, said arm being formed of flat strip, the major portion of said arm adjacent its pivoted end occupying a plane perpendicular to the axis ofsaid pivot, a portion of said arm adjacent the other end Aof* said arm being twisted slightly out of said plane, the

extreme end of said arm beyond the twisted portion being ,twisted to a lesser extent than the balance of said twisted portion, said guide plate having a narrow slot therein ht'oughwhich said arm extends, said slot being aligned full open position. v

2. In door check structure, a check arm formed of a flat strap of uniform thickness having an abutment at one end and a pivot mounting at the other end, a portion of said arm adjacent the end thereof provided with said abutment being inclined transversely from the plane occupied by the end of said arm provided with said pivot mounting, and means cooperating with said arm comprising a body having a slot therein through which said check arm is longitudinally slidable, means holding said body against rotation about the longitudinal axis of said said arm being formed of resilient material whereby passage of the twisted portion thereof through said slot Yresults in a twisting force applied to said arm.

3. ln door check structure, a check arm formed of a ilat strap of uniform thickness having a pivot mounting at one end and having its other end free for swinging movement, an abutment at the free end of said arm, the portion of said arm adjacent its pivoted end being untwisted, an intermediate portion of said arm adjacent its free end having a gradual twist to dispose a part thereof at a small angle to the plane of said untwisted portion, the portionof said arm intermediate said last mentioned part of the arm and said abutment being twisted in the opposite direction to dispose a part thereof directly adjacent said stop at a smaller angle to the plane of said untwisted portion than said tirst mentioned part, and

means cooperating with said arm including a body having a slot through which said arm is slidable, whereby move- `ment of said arm through said slot from adjacent its twisted portion of said arm enters said slot, which then -increases to a maximum, and then decreases to a lesser value.

4. :Door check structure for controlling swinging movemeut of a door part on a frame part which comprises a bracket tixedly secured to'oneof said Iaparts, an .elongated arm, pivot means .connecting one ,end of said arm to `said bracket about a fixed pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the general longitudinal axis of -said arm, said arm being in the form of a at strip of resilient 'material having a helically twisted -portion adjacent its other'end, a guide plate vfixedly secured to said vother part and having a narrowslot through which said arm extends, i'

other end, :aguide plate tixedly secured to said other part and 'having a narrow slot through which said arm extends, a stop at the other end of said arm, said arm -being rockable transversely as the twisted portion thereof 'passes through said slot, and spring means opposing 'transverse rocking movement of said arm.

6. Structure as defined in claim in which said pivot means includes a pivot pin carried by said bracket, said arm having a pin receiving opening substantially larger than said pin to provide for transverse rocking .of said :arm on said pin, and Aa spring surrounding said pin and 5 engaging said arm to oppose transverse rocking thereof. 7. Structure as .defined in claim 5 in which said bracket lcomprises spaced ears, said pivot means comprising a rpin carried by said ears and extending therebetween, said iarm having fa pin receiving opening substantially larger than said pin through which said pin extends to provide -for transverse rocking-of said arm on said pin, and springs fbebweensaid Aears engaging opposite sides of said arm to oppose transverse rocking thereof.

28. IDoor check structure for controlling swinging move- )ment of a door partron a frame part which comprises a @bracket member carried by one of said parts, an elongated rarm, pivot means connecting one end of said arm to said bracket member, said arm being in the form of a Hat .rigid strip having a helically twisted portion adjacent its Vother end, a guide plate member carried by said other =part and having a narrow slot through which said arm fextends, a stop at the other en-d of said arm, means mounting one of said members for rocking movement to 'provide for passage of the twisted portion of said arm through said slot, and resilient means operably connected to said one mem-ber and effective to oppose rock- 'ing movement thereof as the twisted portion of said arm -e-nters said slot.

9. Structure as defined in claim 8 in which said one member is said gui-de plate member.

-l0. Structure as defined in claim 8 in which said one member is said bracket member.

ll. Door check structure for controlling swinging :movement of a door part on a vframe part which comtprises a bracket carried'by one of said parts, an elongated arm, pivot means connecting one end of said .arm to said bracket, said arm being in the form of a flat rigid strip Ihaving a helically twisted lportion adjacent its other end, '-a guide plate carried by said other part and having a narx'ow siot through which said arm extends, a stop at the 'other end of said arm, said bracket comprising a flexible fand resilient ear to which said arm is pivoted, said ear esiliently opposing twisting of said arm as the twisted tportion thereof enters-said slot.

12. 'In door check structure, a check arm formed of a fflat resilient strap of uniform thickness having a pivot mounting at one -end and having its other end free for swinging movement, an abutment at -the free end of 4said arm, the portion of said arm adjacent its vpivoted end being untwisted, .an intermediate portion of said Aarm adjacent its free end havingra gradual twist to dispose apart thereof at 'a small angle to .the plane of said untwisted position, the ,portion -of said arm intermediate ysaid last mentioned part of the arm and said vabutment; being twisted in theopposite direction to dispose apart thereof directly adjacent saidstop ata smaller angle tothe plane of said -untwisted `portion than said vfirst mentioned part, and means cooperating with said arm including a body having a slot through which said arm is slidable, -said slot being parallel'to :the untwisted portion of -said arm, whereby movement of said arm through said slot from -adjacent its pivoted -end to a position :in whih said abutment engages said body twists said resilient arm, the twisting of said arm being intiated as its twisted portion enters-said slot, then increases to a vmaximum value, and then -decreases to a lesser value.

13. Door check structure for controlling swinging movement of a door part hinged to a frame part -which comprises a bracket fixedly secured to one of said parts, an elongated arm connected at one 1end to said bracket, said bracket including means engaging said arm and -effective to prevent movement of the pivoted end of `said arm about anaxis extending longitudinally of thepivoted end portion of said arm, said arm being in the form of a dat strip of resilient material having an abutment at the other end thereof, .a guide plate xedly secured to the other vof -said parts having a narrow slot through which said arm extends, said slot being disposed in parallelism with the portion -of said arm adjacent said bracket, the portion of said arm adjacent said abutment having 'a gradual longitudinal twist keffective to require torsional forces to twist .said .arm 'upon opening movement of the .door and eective to require increasing forces to overcome friction between said arm and the slot in said bracket as 'the door moves toward open position.

14. Door check structure for controlling swinging movement of 4a door .part 4hinged to a frame part Iwhich comprises abracket ixedly secured to vone of said parts, an velongated arm connected at one end to said bracket, said bracket including `means -engaging said arm and effective to prevent -movement of the pivoted end of said arm aboutanaxis extending longitudinally of the pivoted end portion of said arm, said arm being in the form of a flat strip -of resilient material having an abutment at the other end thereof, a guide plate tixedly secured to the other of said parts having a narrow slot through which said arm extends, said slot being disposed in parallelism with the portion of said arm adjacent said bracket, the `portion of said arm adjacent said abutment having a gradual longitudinal twist which reverses its direction `at a zone adjacent to but spaced somewhat from said abutl ment to provide la portion of said arm having a maxi- References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 350,695 Pattin Oct. 212, 1 886 406,840 Jones July 9, 1889 1,837,517 Ball Dec. 22, 193-1 2,032,600 Smith Mar. 3, 1936 2,072,257 Greve -Mar. 2, 1937 2,219,822 Schonitzer Oct. 29, 1940 2,527,933 Jakeway Cet. S1, 1950 2,565,804 De Vries Aug. 28, 1951 2,580,705 Tappan Ian. 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 79,451 Switzerland Nov. 1.6, 1918 '531,660 Germany Aug. 12, 1 931 569,287 Great Britain May 16, 1945 

